📘 Course Title: Sikh Political Thought & Sikh Raj: The Era of Maharaja Ranjit Singh

🎓 Level:

Undergraduate / Postgraduate

🕒 Duration:

12–14 weeks (1 semester) or 5–6 modules (intensive)

🎯 Course Objectives:

• To explore the foundations of Sikh political philosophy.
• To understand the emergence of the Sikh polity from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh.
• To analyze the evolution and administration of Sikh Raj under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• To assess Sikh notions of sovereignty, justice, diplomacy, and secular governance.
• To evaluate the legacy of the Sikh Empire in the context of modern South Asian politics.

🧩 Module-Wise Breakdown:

Module 1: Foundations of Sikh Political Thought

Topics:

• Guru Nanak’s critique of political oppression
• Miri-Piri doctrine and Guru Hargobind Sahib
• Concept of Halemi Raj
• Saint-Soldier ideal (Sant-Sipahi)
• Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom and political defiance
• Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa polity

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand core Sikh values of justice, sovereignty, and resistance.
• Interpret Gurbani in political context.

Readings:

• “Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings” – Harish Dhillon
• Selections from Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth

Module 2: Rise of Sikh Militancy and Confederalism

Topics:

• Banda Singh Bahadur and early Sikh state formation
• Fall of Banda Bahadur & Mughal suppression
• Misls and Dal Khalsa structure
• Political organization and confederal governance
• Rakhi system and localized protection

Learning Outcomes:

• Trace evolution from spiritual movement to political organization.
• Explain decentralized Sikh political structures.

Readings:

• “The Sikh Commonwealth” – Khushwant Singh
• “History of the Sikhs” Vol. 1 – Hari Ram Gupta

Module 3: Consolidation of Sikh Raj under Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Topics:

• Rise of Ranjit Singh and unification of Misls
• Coronation and consolidation of Lahore
• Military modernization and European officers
• Secular governance and religious tolerance
• Administrative structure: revenue, justice, military

Learning Outcomes:

• Analyze the political genius of Ranjit Singh.
• Compare Sikh Raj governance with other contemporary states.

Readings:

• “The Lion of Punjab” – Jean-Marie Lafont
• “Ranjit Singh: Maharajah of the Punjab” – Khushwant Singh

Module 4: Diplomacy and Foreign Relations

Topics:

• Relations with British East India Company
• Treaties: Amritsar (1809) and others
• Afghan campaigns and relations with Dost Mohammad
• Kashmir, Multan, Peshawar campaigns
• Strategic frontier policy

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the geopolitical foresight of the Sikh Empire.
• Discuss Sikh interactions with global colonial powers.

Readings:

• “The Punjab and the Raj” – Ian Talbot
• “Anglo-Sikh Relations 1799–1849” – Ganda Singh

Module 5: Decline and Annexation

Topics:

• Death of Ranjit Singh and internal succession conflicts
• Role of Dogra brothers and court politics
• Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845–49)
• Treaty of Lahore and British annexation
• Resistance: Bhai Maharaj Singh and others

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand causes of Sikh Empire's fall.
• Examine colonial exploitation and Sikh resistance.

Readings:

• “Fall of the Sikh Empire” – Sohan Lal Suri (Umdat-ut-Tawarikh)
• “The First Anglo-Sikh War” – Amarpal Singh

Module 6: Legacy and Contemporary Relevance

Topics:

• Political ideals of Sikh Raj in modern context
• Impact on Punjabi identity and Sikh nationalism
• Commemoration in Sikh memory and diaspora
• Debates on secularism, pluralism, and sovereignty

Learning Outcomes:

• Connect historical Sikh governance with modern Sikh thought.
• Reflect on Sikh Raj as a model of pluralistic leadership.

Readings:

• “Sikhism and the Politics of Identity” – Harjot Oberoi
• “The Construction of Religious Boundaries” – Harjot Oberoi

📝 Assessment Methods:

• Weekly reading reflections
• Mid-term essay on Sikh political thought
• Final paper: Critical evaluation of Ranjit Singh’s governance
• Group presentation on Sikh diplomacy or military structure

🛠️ Supplementary Materials:

• Primary texts: Zafarnama, Hukamnamas, Persian court chronicles
• Maps of Sikh Empire
• British colonial records
• Documentaries and archival images